Statement regarding passing of Dr. David Strangway

The University of British Columbia is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. David Strangway, who was the 10th president of UBC. I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to his family on behalf of the entire UBC community.

From 1985 to 1997, Dr. Strangway provided the exemplary leadership that enabled UBC to advance from being a provincially recognized university to a world-renowned institution. He was instrumental in extending UBC’s relationships and enhancing its reputation around the world and especially in Asia. Among many achievements, Dr. Strangway spearheaded what was then Canada’s largest fundraising campaign for a university, and he enhanced UBC’s research excellence through the Networks of Centres of Excellence.

A geophysicist who earned his PhD at the University of Toronto, Dr. Strangway will be fondly remembered for his many accomplishments as a scientist, including a significant role with NASA when he was responsible for the geophysical aspects of the Apollo space missions. He served on many scientific and academic organizations on behalf of government and the private sector, giving his time tirelessly to advance scientific research, including being the first president and chief executive officer of the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

He was also a president emeritus of the University of Toronto and the founder, first president and first chancellor of Quest University Canada, a private non-profit liberal arts and sciences university in Squamish, B.C. I know the UBC community will be joined by countless others around the globe in mourning the loss of this extraordinarily inspiring man.